When it comes to mid-size security solutions, there’s a lot to consider. While you don’t have the economy of scale that large deployments do, you still need to be careful with your budget. And unlike smaller installations requiring only a few cameras, you may have multiple locations and a variety of needs to meet. The objectives of a mid-size surveillance system are typically specific to the installation and may include detecting intrusion at numerous entrances and exits, preventing theft, monitoring for vandalism, and more.

Fortunately, there’s technology on the market engineered specifically for surveillance systems of this size. Additionally, many of the features once found only in the most advanced cameras and VMS are now available at much more affordable price points, putting them within reach for mid-size systems.

Powerful video management systems (VMS) have been developed to support mid-size surveillance systems while still delivering high levels of functionality. Video image quality has improved even for mid level cameras, with higher megapixel counts and more features like Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) for better image capture in all lighting environments. Panoramic technology allows for a reduction in camera counts with higher functionality per camera. With built-in analytics that can provide more security and business intelligence, much more capability is available at the mid-size level. In a recent webinar, Robert LaBella, Business Development Manager at Pelco, described a number examples of mid-size systems across several verticals, the problems they face, and how these technologies can improve a mid-size system. For example:

College Campus
The need to protect students, staff and visitors has created a significant challenge for colleges and universities. A few of the features that are proving highly useful on today’s campus include mapping capabilities that integrate with a VMS to show camera locations, and cameras with WDR that can capture high quality video even with both light and dark areas in frame. A smaller campus may not have its own security command center, increasing their need to rely on technology to detect issues like a backpack left in a hallway and notify personnel so that they can deal with it in a timely manner.

Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals and healthcare facilities need to maintain strict control of restricted areas. Access control systems can be integrated with VMS and cameras to keep track of who enters what area, and generate alarms if necessary. Panoramic cameras can view a wide area such as a lobby for any suspicious activity, saving on camera counts. With facial recognition analytics, cameras can verify identities at entrances to highly restricted areas.

Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings have multiple large areas they need to keep secure, and may have valuable paintings or furnishings located in a lobby or other public area. With remote VMS access from a security operations center, a security team can monitor all of these locations, reducing the number of personnel needed overall. In the low-light parking garage, a camera with WDR can maintain high-quality images even when there is glare from car headlights. A single fixed camera with integrated object removal detection can monitor valuable assets such as artwork and detect tampering or removal.

If you have an older mid-size system, you may want to consider upgrading it. Older technology becomes more costly to maintain as it ages, and technology can become obsolete or simply not perform to the standards you require. An upgrade can be a highly cost-effective way of leveraging the value you still have in your existing system. Often, some of your equipment can be repurposed on a new system, helping to protect your investment. Improving the technology in place on your mid-size surveillance system will provide higher levels of safety, efficiency, and ROI.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a mid-size video surveillance solution. With a lot of needs but without an enterprise-level budget, it’s important to pick the technologies that will work the hardest for your installation. Improvements in camera and VMS technology, as well as numerous integrations enabling a range of solutions, can make it possible for you to find just what you need when you install or upgrade your mid-size system.